Hearts and Backstabs

Mia and Clara had always been close—closer than close. From sleepovers to secrets, from late-night FaceTime calls to holding each other together during heartbreaks, they were a duo no one could touch. People at school called them the "Unbreakable Pair." But when Jake Monroe transferred in mid-semester, everything changed. He was the kind of boy who didn’t need to try. With messy dark hair, ocean eyes, and that careless smirk, he walked through the hallways like he already owned them. By the second week, he asked Mia out in front of the cafeteria.

Clara clapped and squealed and hugged her. "You have to say yes!" she had said, pretending to be excited. But the knot in her stomach told the truth: That should’ve been me. Over the next few weeks, Clara plastered on a smile, but inside, she felt herself crumbling. She listened to Mia talk about Jake nonstop, and every time Mia pulled out her phone to show a text or selfie, Clara felt like someone was stealing something that belonged to her. So she made a decision. If Mia could take Jake without knowing how Clara felt, then Clara could take him back.